I've been gone a week on study leave, and upon returning fired up the GP-35 on the new oval of MT track. The engine sputtered and stalled -- and ran very rough. as i began a little cleaning of the track (which improved the engine's peformance noticably) i also noticed some white powdery accumulation along the track (especially at the joiners). the engine wheels and trucks showed a little of the white dust too. this is colorado -- dry air, 7000 feet! Why would there be any corrosion? there's none on the N scale track next to it -- and never has been. i hope this is a fluke and there is some other explanation. i've not "treated" the track with anything -- just "plug and play" -- yet there is the white stuff. is anyone else having a problem -- or observing something similar? thanks, dave f.
I haven't had a problem with mine, and I will go 3-4 days inbetween running during the week. I am not sure what to make of it. If I notice anything I will let you know. I was actually thinking just the opposite, that the new track needs less cleaning than my marklin track on my old layout.
Maybe your wife silently sprinkled some ajax on the track in hopes your locomotives would all corrode, so you will loose interest in trains, and pay more attention to her? Haha! That's something that only MY first wife would do, not anybody elses! But really, I looked over my track and did not notice any corrosion. So what I would recommend is to clean the track with your bright boy, then use some Pacer Rail Zip to keep corrosion at bay. I have used it for years with good results in N Scale, and on my Z Scale modules for the past year. The way they suggest is to polish the rails with an eraser or brightboy, then wipe on a thin film and let sit for 30 minutes or so, then use a moistened with water towel to wipe it off. Yes they say to use a towel moistened with water! It works well enough, as the trains will run all day at the shows without issue. For wipes, I cut up an old cotton t-shirt into 1" squares, and they work real well. -Robert
I doubt if what you have is corrosion, it wouldn't show up as a white powder. All I can think of is dust or someone with dusting powder pulling a prank. I have about 15' of it on my test track here at MTL and haven't cleaned it in a month...no problems. If is persists, send the track back to MTL and we will check it out and replace if necessary. Joe D'Amato MTL
Hi Joe, and welcome to Trainboard! I hear you are painting some GP's into CORP for your own layout. Please post some photo's when you get around to the repaints. -Robert
Good to be here. Yes, since I have access to the masks for the UP GP it makes the job sooooo much easier! I am also doing a few W&P and a few other Oregon based Railroads. I only have two chassis so far and will switch out shells for different ops, but sooner or later my chassis collection will catch up with the shells! I should have some painted today and will post later tonight. I also plan on doing a couple of your GP-39 conversions as well, love the look. Since CORP has a few old BN cast offs in their green and black base colors, these would fit. Joe
Thanks Joe, i raised the question to see if anyone else had observed the phenomena. i can't explain what i saw, but perhaps there was something in the air that would react to all exposed metals. it was not severe, just the funny whitening around rail joiners in particular -- and the rough running of my otherwise sweet and smooth GP-35. since cleaning the track, the problem hasn't returned (but i have run my train on it a little every day, since then). fyi -- i just ordered more track from BLWnscale to "finish" my layout ... that is until turnouts are available! thanks for your response. dave f.
Are the rails made from a "Paint-Lok" or zinc plated steel? Zinc corrosion happens close to joints when electrical current is present. Tin oxide is also a white substance, and has replaced lead oxide in making white paints today. Somewhere I read that the new low-lead solders, called "Pewter" will sometimes collect a whitish powder when used on nickle silver rails and German silver parts. It may have rained and a high humidity might have caused some oxidation to soft solder at the joints between dissimilar metals too. I'm guessing.
My track has been on my layout for about two weeks now and nothing and it sits in the garage and we've had plenty of rain and cold weather!!
